Quote

No city in the world, not even Athens or Rome, ever played as great a role in the life of a nation for so long a time, as Jerusalem has done in the life of the Jewish people.

David Ben-Gurion

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

David Ben-Gurion
Age: 87 †
Born: 1886
Born: October 16
Died: 1973
Died: December 1
Politician
Statesman
Trade Unionist
Dominion of Canada
David Grün
Ben-Gurion
Long
Nation
Athens
Time
Roles
Jerusalem
Life
Cities
Rome
World
Nations
Jewish
People
Ever
Israel
Done
Played
Great
Role
Even
City

More quotes by David Ben-Gurion

Image
Israel will not discuss a peace involving the concession of any piece of territory. The neighboring states do not deserve an inch of Israel's land. . . . We are ready for exchange for peace.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
In the midst of wanton aggression, we still call upon the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to return to the ways of peace and play their part in the development of the State, with full and equal citizenship and due representation in its bodies and institutions - provisional or permanent.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
The acceptance of partition does not commit us to renounce Transjordan: one does not demand from anybody to give up his vision. We shall accept a state in the boundaries fixed today, but the boundaries of Zionist aspirations are the concern of the Jewish people and no external factor will be able to limit them.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
Let us not ignore the truth among ourselves ... politically we are the aggressors and they defend themselves... The country is theirs, because they inhabit it, whereas we want to come here and settle down, and in their view we want to take away from them their country.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
The old will die and the young will forget.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
The test of democracy is freedom of criticism.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
The most dangerous enemy to Israel's security is the intellectual inertia of those who are responsible for security.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
From Jewish terrorism against Arabs it is a short step to Jewish terrorism against Jews.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
If I knew that it was possible to save all the children of Germany by transporting them to England, and only half by transferring them to the Land of Israel, I would choose the latter, for before us lies not only the numbers of these children but the historical reckoning of the people of Israel.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
Without moral and intellectual independence, there is no anchor for national independence.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
It is only in Hebrew that you feel the full meaning of it -- all the associations which a different word has.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
We must assist the British in the war as if there were no White Paper and we must resist the White Paper as if there were no war.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
We offer peace and neighborliness to all the neighboring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Hebrew nation for the common good of all.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
We will make a great and awful mistake if we fail to settle Hebron, neighbor and predecessor of Jerusalem, with a large Jewish settlement, constantly growing and expanding, very soon. This will also be a blessing to the Arab neighbors. Hebron is worthy to be Jerusalem's sister.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
Let me first tell you one thing: It doesn't matter what the world says about Israel it doesn't matter what they say about us anywhere else. The only thing that matters is that we can exist here on the land of our forefathers. And unless we show the Arabs that there is a high price to pay for murdering Jews, we won't survive.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
You must talk to us as equals, or not talk to us at all.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
If an expert says it can't be done, get another expert.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
It's not a matter of maintaining the status quo. We have to create a dynamic state, oriented towards expansion.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
Referring to Palestinian refugees: We must do everything in our power to ensure that they never return.
David Ben-Gurion
Image
The past is our very being.
David Ben-Gurion